“You’re all right,” Lakshmi said simply.Then, as if she’d read my mind, “He’ll be proud of you.”
I fought the rise of tears in my throat and tossed my half-smoked slim toward the skip, trying not to meet her searching, narrowed eyes.
“You know,” she said after a few moments, “I didn’t come out here just to tell you I plan to date your friends and to witness you tell off your abusive ex.”
“Didn’t you?”
“Nah, I came to tell you about an email I got a while back.”She handed me her phone.“Didn’t think you’d be interested, initially.But now ...”
I had to blink several times before I could trust my own eyes.“Is this legit?Are they serious?”
“As a heart attack, pet.”She gave me a rare, full-toothed, non-sardonic grin.“It’s a two-year appointment with a stipend and benefits.”
“How?I haven’t— I didn’t—”
“You know how this works.”She shrugged.“They like it when we come in the back door.”She held her hand out for her phone.“So, I’ll say yes, shall I?”
“Wait, does that mean I can’t keep working for the center?”
“Nah, magic of the internet, my love.”She tapped away, nails glinting.“Got a load of spots lined up for the next few weeks, but then, as I said, you’re a free man.”
I gnawed on a knuckle and searched her face for any sign of deceit or mischief.That this was all one long horrible joke at my expense.
“It’s real, Demetrio.”She sighed.“I know you’re scared, but you’ve got to—”
“Do it anyway,” I mumbled around my own fist.
“Achcha.”
“There he is!”That decibel level could only come from Florabelle.She, Abigay, Winnie, Auntie Abeni, and Hettie were all bustling toward us down the alleyway.Sam and Craig were likely still inside pretending they had money.
“For a man what likes his privacy, you sure spend an awful lot of time in front of cameras, don’t you?”Hettie chortled.“Can’t wait to watch this on the custard.”
“It’s a good thing he’s handsome, innit?”Winnie fiddled with my suit lapel.“Though I daresay you’d have looked just as fit in one of our Les’s old suits.”
“But why do you run off without saying hello?”Auntie sulked.I apologized and started to prostrate, but she stopped me with a laugh.“You’re a good boy.”
“Thank you, Auntie.And thank you all for coming.I’ve, er—” I glanced over at Lakshmi, then swallowed and kept going “—got some news.”
Lucas is a Cowboy Dream
December 24
Nothing compared to the Barclay homestead at Christmastime.The End is Neigh was all decked out with wreaths and twinkle lights everywhere the horses couldn’t try to eat them.We were closed today and tomorrow, but the tour of kids who’d swung by for a holiday field trip yesterday had been delighted by the fact that we’d managed to wrangle most of the horses into wearing Santa hats.Except Major Bananas, the spoilsport.
My horse Dakota was in the holiday spirit, and she and my mom and her own horse Jupiter joined us in a ride around the property.The early morning air was only a bit chilly, nothing a corduroy jacket couldn’t counter.A far cry from the dreary weather of England.
It was good to be back home, but I missed Armand like an amputated limb.He’d kept his promise to communicate more regularly, especially as I kept him abreast.Ever since returning to the States, I’d received several invites to pretty prestigious West Coast photography festivals.
Apparently, Jean had tried to get the exhibition pulled after I left, but Ichika had vouched for me.He’d told people I was flaky and derivative, starting a few rumors slandering my character, but no one bought it.Enough of them had met me in person and I’mdelightful.And, in all honesty, they either knew or had heard of my mother.Even though I hadn’t stayed for the whole run, myDead of Summerexhibition had been—in Ichika’s words—an unprecedented success, and now local galleries in California wanted to showcase my photos.
Nepotism for the win.
Armand, though still a man of few words over text and voice memo, took care to tell me how proud he was of me.And not only because of my job opportunities.
I’d been seeing Dr.Singh once a week, and while I had a long road of therapeutic work ahead of me, she’d been patient and knowledgeable, and it’d been nice to have a safe space to talk and vent.
But right now, the talking was reserved for my mother, who chattered away beside me as we rode.I was definitely listening, but I also checked my phone for messages.Nothing yet from Armand.Granted, it was mid-afternoon his time, which meant my boyfriend was likely barely awake.Like a weirdo.I snapped a photo of the top of Dakota’s head, making sure to get the sunrise hitting the tree line in the background.
